look over there…

The gang and I are hanging out at Susie’s. as part of her interview with Australian Bloggers Series.

Pop on over and read my ravings if you like, and while you are there pop into Susie’s Etsy shop and check out her fabrics

(my favourite is the marbles)

spakfilla

A couple of finishes under the belt always feels good.

 

But of course it is the new stuff that is the most exciting. I was hoping to get to play with this during the week, but I am off to sewjourn this weekend so I might take it along with me for a fiddle. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Teaching

Ok, so I have been a bit slack on the information relay. Sorry. I have some great teaching booked in for the first half of the year and beyond:

Wednesday April 4th (school holidays)

I’ll be teaching a beginners class for Sally at Mill rose cottage in Ballan. This would be a great class for someone who has never made toys before. Young people are most welcome with their parent and we will make the toy together. Teaching (and learning ) at Mill rose cottage is always a treat I promise you.

Saturday 21st April

I’ll be teaching Baxter at The Drapers of Mt Macedon – Can’t wait. A day with Mary is good for the soul. I’m looking forward to catching up with some local friends while I am there. (waving at kylie) This class would also be fine for a beginner. Baxter is not a complicated fellow to assemble, we just have to grit our teeth as that fur sheds all over us !

Saturday 19th May

I’ll be teaching the Three little maids locally at Ballarat Patchwork. Its always a great day, and for me its kind of like a second home. The day is always very relaxed and if you’re lucky I might forget something and you’ll get to meet the grumpy teenager as I ask him to just quickly hop on his skateboard and deliver me a fox toy or a pair of haemostats. (truly he loves it)

Later in the year I will be squeezing in the Daylesford Craft Experience and am very excited to say I’ll be hanging with Leanne Beasley and Rosalie Quinlan at the Quilters Harvest Days in Warracknabeal.

If you are unsure about anything to do with the classes or you would like to join in you can contact the shops or email me with questions.

Right now one must get out of the pyjamas and into the sewing room. One has many ideas brewing. One is losing sleep. One’s head is very very close to exploding.

Is it too soon

 

to call it a rug?

Screen printing made local.

Remember last year when I went to a screen printing class?

Well the wonderful Laura has moved to my town !

Yesterday I popped over to say Hi and welcome to Ballarat. Finn came along to meet her gorgeous dog Jasper and we hung out in her ENORMOUS studio.

Laura and I got talking about screen printed fabrics, and screen printed parts of toys - and I had such a great time. The possibilities with screen printing kind of blow my mind a bit.

I took heaps of photos of laura's studio but for some reason blogger won't let me upload (again) so I did the flickr thing with these. Laura teaches classes for all levels of skill and her classes are super fun. I can vouch for the fact that once you learn a little bit, you will want to know more.

Laura is currently running a promotion with Red Brick Gallery here in Ballarat and yesterday she said she would happily off the same deal to all you guys as well.

if you book in to any of these classes you will get $30 off.

Saturday Feb 18th - Intermediate

Sunday Feb 19th - Beginner

Sunday March 11th - beginner

Saturday 24th March - beginner

Now I'm not going to put laura's phone number here on the blog, but I'm happy to give it to you if you are keen. I tell you people, this will open up a whole new crafty obsession.

Totally bunted dudes!

One old atlas

a few metres (or 20) of bias tape and some sewing

equals instant (kind of) library decoration.

Keeping up with the Jones' (or Annie)

Every school term without fail, Annie makes a new handbag. Her bags get more and more complicated as she works through almost all of Nikki's patterns. This term, it could not be avoided, my bag with a great big split in the front PVC had to go...it was getting embarrassing.

So at the last minute I made a new bag - same as every other bag I have made for about four years, but this time with thicker PVC. Kind of dull and boring and practical - but saved by the awesomeness that is my favourite Ink and Spindle fabric ever, long discontinued and hoarded until now.

Ahead of me on this three day weekend, is some papercraft........yep never thought I'd be putting that word on my blog. A bit of Red riding hood tweaking, a bit of rag rugging, all the general domestic godessing and (fingers crossed) the final final finishing of these as yet unnamed fellows below.

ooh , and the first postcard arrived at school yesterday, (Thanks Catherine) correctly addressed to the awesome Library chick......accompanied by the statement from the office ladies - "Jodie's been writing letters to herself again"